Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of a correlation between the 2023 migration deal with France and a doubling in the number of migrants who have drowned crossing the English Channel; and what plans they have to review the deal in this regard.

The UK’s cooperation with France to prevent small boat crossings of the English Channel led to a reduction in crossing numbers of 36% last year when compared to 2022. It is vital that we continue to work with French partners to put an end to the evil criminal gangs who are profiting from encouraging migrants to make increasingly dangerous crossing attempts in unseaworthy vessels. UK and French officials work together to continuously monitor the impact of the three-year deal agreed by the Prime Minister and President Macron in March 2023.

Ensuring the safety of lives at sea is paramount to our operations, in line with international obligations.